On a bleak cold day—April 24, 1886—Buffalo Jones struck out with Charley Rude and Newton Adams with a team of 3-year-old mules harnessed to a light spring wagon and another team hauling a heavier lumber wagon.

They took provisions for a 6-week expedition in Texas desert country determined to capture buffalo calves for Jones’ Kansas ranch.

Their point of departure was the little Kansas town of Kendall, on the Arkansas River not far from the west border of that state.

Long ago, a tribe of Cheyenne hunters camped at the head of a rushing stream, which eventually emptied into a large cave. The people were starving. They hunted deer, rabbits, porcupines, birds and even skunks until all were gone. Then they would move to a new camp. But soon all wildlife was gone there too. Because of the great need for a new food supply for his people, the Chief called a council meeting. "We should explore this large cave," he told his people. "How many brave hunters will offer to go on this venture? Of course, it may be dangerous, but we have brave hunters." The men were silent. No one responded to the Chief's request. Every morning he repeated his plea. Finally, one young brave painted himself for hunting and stepped forth in the council. He said, "I will go and sacrifice myself for our people." He arrived at the cave, near the opening, where the stream rushed underground. There to his surprise, Young Brave found two other Cheyenne hunters, also painted for...

William Hornaday published his amazing report on the slaughter of the buffalo herds in a government book in 1889, which he titled The Extermination of the American Bison.

It was intended to be the last word on bison.

In essence, the saving of buffalo focused on two major factors.

On the one hand were westerners, both Native American and whites, who saw what was happening to the buffalo and cared about saving them.

With boots on the ground, these people rescued, nourished and protected fragile buffalo calves until they multiplied into healthy and prolific herds.

Without them American bison would likely have gone extinct. There’d be no buffalo in North America today. It almost happened.